I urge the Premier not to…

I urge the Premier not to proceed with the proposed amendments to existing water protections under provincial law. I am deeply concerned with the potential environmental and human impacts for current and future generations.

The proposed projects and operations would not undergo an up-front, detailed review by Ministry staff to assess and prevent potential environmental impacts. Improper management of wastewater and stormwater has the potential to cause serious impacts to freshwater systems and safe drinking water.
Waste-management systems that transport and store waste, in particular, asbestos waste, hazardous waste and biomedical waste have the potential to cause serious harm to the natural environment and human health.

Weakening important drinking water laws such as Source Protection Plans that were established as an important multibarrier approach to managing drinking water and mitigate disasters such as the Walkerton Crisis from occurring could lead to harmful outcomes. As the Ministry of Environment, Conservation, and Parks has shifted more activities to the EASR, it hasn’t put the proper resources and processes in place to ensure compliance and adequate oversight of registrants’ projects.
Most projects currently under the EASR are not being inspected by the Ministry. The proposed changes open up the door to more polluting industries to find loopholes for qualifying to register under the EASR. Beyond the conflict of interest, the proposed changes are, in and of themselves, harmful to water protections. Furthermore, these changes would also weaken existing wastewater management oversight.

I understand the need to address the current housing crisis for Ontarians, but I do not support doing so at the expense of environmental protections for our drinking water sources and freshwater systems. Instead, the Province should adequately resource the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks to facilitate current processes and applications under the existing Environmental Compliance Approval. This can help to effectively meet our housing needs while ensuring the long-term health of our waters. Access to safe, clean environments and water is non-negotiable. Safeguarding and enhancing our natural environment and human health is a crisis that should be considered paramount. We should not be making it easier or "Streamlined" to adversely impact the environment, our water and our peoples. The proposed changes would result in an unacceptable reduction in government oversight in an already 'poor compliance' sector with current regulations and should be strengthened not diminished.

I urge the Ministry not to move ahead with the proposed changes.